Sweet with small-town charm, a cast of endearing supporting characters, and a heartwarming romance. It was easy to read as a stand-alone title but has some familiarity for those who read The Printed Letter Bookshop. Reay creates an easy-to-read enjoyable “everyday” novel – not that it’s mundane, but the plot lines aren’t completely unbelievable and we normal folk can often relate to the struggles and challenges the characters face. Overall, I’d recommend this one. It’s a cozy, slow-paced, easy read that’ll leave you with a happy sigh by the final chapter – second chances for the win!

My thanks to Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy of this title that I received via NetGalley. It was published May 12, 2020 and should be available from your favourite bookseller!

Of Literature and Lattes was a 3 star read for me mainly because I wasn’t enjoying myself while reading this book. It felt a little boring to me as I wanted the entire thing to go at a much faster rate than it did. But I am looking forwards to reading her previous book set in the same town

A small-town romance that not only makes you believe in second chances again but makes you want to move out of the city and go live in a small town. I dont know about you, but I've always been obsessed with small towns and Of Literature and Lattes has made that obsession stronger than it's ever been before. Not only does is this centered around a small town, but it's centered around bookstores, coffee shops, and charming characters that I wished were real becuase if they were, I'd be moving to Winsome asap.

There was nothing that I didn't love about this book and I will quickly be reading anything else by Katherine Reay. She's made me a lover of her work and I'm anxious to get started on her other books!

A cozy romance that deals with real-life issues. I haven't read the first book of this group so not sure if that was needed or not. I have read others of hers and this one wasn't my favorite though.

Thank you to @netgalley and the author for my free copy for an honest review.
The premise of this one was good, the start up gone wrong was particularly interesting due to the fact I’ve actually read the non-fiction about Theranos which is mentioned a few times in the plot which is needed as I though of it straight away so it points out some inspiration directly there..
The main character, Alyssa was likable enough and the romance seemed right but to be honest there should have been more. There were too many subplots and characters with complicated relationships that it didn’t play out in as much detail as I would have liked.
The custody battle was all good until the end and then it lost me a bit with what felt an unnecessary plot twist.
I think the story has a good basis and I believe there to be a book set in the same town before this one and I’m sure they’ll be a few after. I think the less is more approach would have helped bump this up for me.
3.5/5

Katherine Reay is one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed that she set Of literature and lattes in the same town as The printed letter bookshop, and I liked learning more about Alyssa and her family dynamics. I always appreciate that Katherine Reay allows her characters to be fully human in their flaws - and their good qualities. She doesn't shy away from writing about true-t0-life struggles, like Jeremy's issues as a single dad and trying to figure out how his ex fits into the picture after so many years of absence. Overall, while this wasn't my favorite of her books, it was still an enjoyable and pleasant read.

disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a cute, quick read! I didnt read the first one which may have affected my opinion, but I did enjoy this one and now look forward to reading the first!

I loved the book for the setting of a small town with community togetherness, the main characters and the mother-daughter relationship between Alyssa and her mom, Janet. This is a follow up to the previous book by this author, and leaves us in a place knowing there is another book to come. I was not thrilled with the religious aspects, but those were pretty minor. Alyssa returns home after her former company is being investigated by the FBI. Her relationship with her mother has always been challenging, and a new character, Jeremy, becomes her love interest. Recommended, and thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I did not know there was a previous book. Though this can be read as a stand alone, I do wonder if reading the first book would have helped me like this book more.
Overall, it was a ok read and some interesting characters. I do recommend reading the first book as there are references back to that story and I felt a bit lost at times.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and give my honest review about this book.

My thoughts













Narrative and Plot








Of Literature and Lattes is a follow up book to the Printed Letter Bookshop. If you're interested in reading this one, I recommend reading the first book in order to fully understand how far each character has come.


The narrative is more about self reflection and philosophies of life. This is not a surprise if you are already familiar with The Printed Letter Bookshop ( my review). The way the book shifts from each character while narrating the story and still make us care for each of them is just heart warming.

The plot is not exactly a strong suit of the book. This book is more character driven. It is about the community and the people coming together in this cozy little town. That is so relevant in the current times because we might be physically distancing ourselves but this is no time for socially isolating anyone.







Characters and Conflicts










Alyssa and Jeremy are our main characters. One hits the rock bottom and the other dreams of a better life, at the beginning of the book and that's when they choose Winsome. Alyssa with her career blown takes a step back and comes to her hometown. Jeremy wants to build a relationship with his daughter and run his own coffee shop. Only, what we think might not be the rock bottom - it could be better or worse. What matters is how we move forward. Perhaps that is my biggest takeaway from this book. Particularly Janet, and how she has come out of her own bitterness.

Personally, I have a strong relationship with my mother but it is not always glossy and pretty.  On that level, I could deeply relate to the mother-daughter relationship in the book. While the romance was there, other relationships were given equal importance. Friendship and kinship aside, the book once again throws in the theme of spirituality and how one can actually find courage from it. And last but not the least, there are book talks. In The Printed Letter Bookshop review, I mentioned the possibility of a book club and the idea being rotated in the second book made me genuinely happy.








Conclusion










Literature and Lattes - the book has both in abundance. This is again a book that celebrates the good in humanity and just nudges us to forgive ourselves for all those burdens we carry within and become a better version of ourselves. On that note, I think everyone  who thinks on those lines should read this book.

Title: Of Literature and Lattes

Author: Katherine Reay

Pg: 336

Genre: Women’s fiction

Rating: 3 stars

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

I’ve come to the conclusion that Katherine Reay’s books at least the physical version are hit or miss for me. However I have discovered that I prefer her books on audio to print. To me women’s fiction is better on audio for me.

Of Literature and Latte is the companion novel to The Printed Letter Bookshop. I wouldn’t consider it a sequel it has some of the same characters as the previous novel but the two main characters in this book are new characters.

However there’s slight spoilers for secondary characters in this one who were main characters in the first one. So if you don’t like any spoilers then I recommend reading The Printed Letter Bookshop first.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Review of ‘Of Literature and Lattes’, by Katherine Reay
Although overall a pleasant read with lovely characters and a charming setting, I feel that ‘Of Literature and Lattes’ missed the mark a little. Perhaps because the author was trying to pack way too much into one book, delving a little bit into the psyche and pain of many characters in this book. And maybe because the action got somewhat lost in long monologues that seemed at times a little repetitious. And I feel like one of the plot points, regarding Jeremy’s daughter, came kind of diluted—there was a lot more that could have been explored more in-depth there, especially in light of the fact that Jeremy was working on building a new life. But I don’t regret reading this book, and if someone wants to or has picked it up, I know there is a lot in there that they will enjoy. For one, the characters are quite appealing and I grew attached to a few of them. There are also some great descriptions that make the town of Winsome quite, well, winsome. And it’s always nice to hear about something picking up the pieces and carrying on—especially when the pieces were thrown all over the place by a big company more intent on profit than anything else. Sounds painfully familiar, doesn’t it? It’s nice to read about someone going through this familiar pain and coming out on the other side stronger and better, especially during these pandemically-charged times.

I found very difficult to read Of Literature and Lattes by Katherine Reay; the fact that it is populated by a lot of characters is a bit confusing.
I had a lot of expectations regarding this book because it sounded one of the best ones.
Simply I haven't been in grade to enter in the story at all.

I am sorry.

Although Of Literature and Lattes can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading The Printed Letter Bookshop first. I think the more emotionally connected readers are to Winsome, the more impactful this novel’s themes of community and perspective will resonate. Additionally, readers will get to see and recognize familiar faces from the previous book.

The narration of this book was slightly difficult for me to adjust to, since the point of view shifted between multiple characters - sometimes in the same ongoing scene. However, in the end, I appreciated this style of storytelling and thought it gave a nice reprieve when I felt the main characters, Jeremy and Alyssa, were stuck in attitudes I didn’t like.

At first, I struggled to connect with Jeremy because of his relationship with his friend, Ryan. However, his growth and humility as the story progressed really endeared me to him and his story arc was a great illustration of the beauty of forgiveness and second chances. I also enjoyed Jeremy’s relationship with his daughter, Becca, and his commitment to present in her life.

Unfortunately, I didn’t relate or empathize with Alyssa with as much ease. Her tendency to pick fights rather than try to understand another person’s point of view was frustrating, especially with her mom consistently trying to pursue peace and reconciliation. Sadly, I was left wanting more with the resolution of this story arc, even if it wasn't incomplete.

Lastly, I thought the romance between Jeremy and Alyssa was kind of sudden – not in an insta-love type of way, but I didn’t think their relationship was built to the place where it wouldn’t take me by surprise. Once I adjusted to it though, I thought their romance was a perfect complement to the story and it added a good dose of sweetness and levity.

Overall, Of Literature and Lattes is a decent read filled with small-town charm, community, and second chances.

* I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Katherine Reay is truly the master at sweet and enthralling storylines. With stories full of literary references and modern-day twists, everything she puts together leaves me both lovestruck and engaged. I loved the first book in the Winsome series, "The Printed Letter Bookshop" and "Of Literature and Lattes" was more of her literary magic. I will read whatever Reay brings, as she has a way with developing characters in a timeless and realistic way.

I thoroughly enjoyed Katherine Reay's modern-day retellings of Jane Austen's novels. Unfortunately, Of Literature and Lattes is a miss for me. I found it confusing, with too many characters to make sense of and the quick switchbacks to different storylines. It would have been helpful to have the book with markings to indicate a switch from Alyssa's story to Jeremy's, for example. This novel didn't engage me. The Christian message was limited to mentions of The Serenity Prayer, church, and God - expansion of which would have elevated the story. My thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC for this, my honest review.

Katherine Reay is a go-to author for smartly written tales that weave literary references into original narratives. She writes about all types of relationships, from sisters, different generations, female friendship and of course, romantic. After a couple really strong novels (her first, Dear Mr. Knightley remains my favorite), I lost my unwavering enthusiasm for Reay's work. The Printed Letter Bookshop had me very back on board, so I had high hopes for Of Literature and Lattes. Both are standalone novels, but characters from Printed Letter appear in Of Literature and Lattes, which is set in the same small town of Winsome, IL. I'm glad I had read Printed Letter to get some of the context for character development sake. And that's one of my biggest problems with this book - aside from Alyssa, one of the main characters, the development falls a little flat. Lots of things happened that left me wondering who is that? or when did that happen? The ending third did redeem my overall feelings for the book. Reay has introduced so many people from Winsome into this storyline, I kind of hope she continues to write about this small town.

I have loved all of Katherine Reay's books in the past and this was no exception! This one was super cute and enjoyable! The story, the characters, and writing style were great! I would say it is a perfect summer read!

This is the second in a series. However, it could be a standalone with a sequel to follow. You are introduced to characters that were in the first book but enough information is given about them for you to understand who they are and each of their complexities. The author brings us to the town of Winsome, Illinois. The main characters Alyssa and Jeremy have many layers and the author peels away those layers throughout the book. Reality, forgiveness, friendship, unpredictability, love and fun are in store for them as they spend the summer in this town. The author has a way of introducing literary books and mentioning various titles of children’s books that 7-year old Becca may read. Katherine Reay’s words are well-scripted and not totally predictable. She is able to keep the reader captivated with the cast of characters that live in this quaint town I thoroughly enjoyed traveling to Winsome and I look forward to coming back. I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. My review is completely my own. #OfLiteratureandLattes #NetGalley

I was unable to get into this story at all. The characters were difficult to connect with, and the random changes in POV were very hard to follow. I don't do this much, but this was a book I was unable to finish. From what I heard after starting it, this is the second book in a series. Maybe if I'd read book one first, I would have understood what was going on and been able to engage. That's the reason I'm giving this two stars instead of one.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, but this review is entirely my own opinion.